Search results for "Biomaterials"

Antibacterial, physical and mechanical properties of bonding agent containing synthesized Zinc Dimethacrylate

2019

Background The aim of this study includes synthesis of zinc dimethacrylate ionomer (ZDMA) by a new method, incorporate it into resin bonding and evaluate its antibacterial, physical and mechanical properties. Material and methods Resin adhesives containing 0 to 5% wt of ZDMA was produced and the following tests were accomplished: A: Antibacterial test: 1.Direct contact test. 2.Material aging; in both of them the bacterial colony counting were performed. B: Physical test: 1.Degree of conversion (D.C). 2.Evaluating the amount of released Zinc ion release in aqueous medium. C: Mechanical test: 1.Compressive strength test. 2.Shear bond test (enamel and dentine separately). The obtained results …

Assessment of Arundo donax Fibers for Oil Spill Recovery Applications

2019

In the last years, natural fibers are increasingly investigated as an oil recovery system in order to overcome the oil spillage phenomena, thus preserving environment and aquatic life. In particular, lignocellulose-based fibers have recently been employed with promising results. In such a context, the aim of this paper is to assess the oil sorption capability of natural fibers extracted from the stem of the giant reed Arundo donax L., a perennial rhizomatous grass belonging to the Poaceae family that grows naturally all around the world thanks to its ability to tolerate different climatic conditions. Sorption tests in several pollutants and water as a reference were carried out. The fibers …

Combined endoscopical treatments for tracheo‐esophageal fistula developed during V‐V ECMO for severe COVID‐19: A case series

2021

Reliability Estimation of Optimal Viscoelastic Composite Shells in Critical-Time Calculations

2003

The problem of reliability estimation for optimal viscoelastic composite shells in critical-time calculations is considered. The weight minimization of a viscoelastic composite shell, with constraints on deflections at the critical time, leads to a system deforming unstably, whose deflections grow in time with an increasing rate. A method for estimating the reliability of such shells in calculating the critical time is discussed. This time is regarded as a random variable depending on many, roughly equivalent, factors. An analysis of the reliability is carried out for different values of coefficients of variation, occurring in practice.

A comparative study of mechanical properties of fresh and frozen-thawed porcine intervertebral discs in a bioreactor environment

2016

Abstract Limited availability of fresh intervertebral discs (IVDs) necessitates the use of frozen-thawed samples in biomechanical investigations. Several authors have reported the mechanical properties of frozen-thawed IVDs, but few studies have investigated the effects of storage temperature and cooling rate. The validity and reliability of the applied freezing-thawing procedures are still relatively unknown. The study aims to compare the mechanical responses of fresh porcine IVDs and porcine IVDs, which were frozen at different freezing temperatures with a controlled-rate cooling process and then thawed. The specimens were obtained from pigs aged 6 months. A total of 18 functional spine u…

Synthesis of Cuboctahedral CeO2 Nanoclusters and Their Assembly into Cuboid Nanoparticles by Oriented Attachment

2017

Here, we describe a simple approach to control the oriented attachment process through selective ligand scavenging from the {100} facets of CeO2 nanoclusters. Aggregates of these nanoclusters smaller than 10 nm with controlled shapes and exposed facets were obtained. For the synthesis of the cuboctahedral CeO2 nanoclusters, we developed a solvent-controlled synthesis approach based on a non-hydrolytic sol–gel process and used an ester aminolysis reaction to control ligand scavenging from the {100} facets. First-principle calculations allowed us to understand and interpret, at the atomic level, the effects of shape control on the synthesis. Fine-tuning of the desired morphologies can be achi…

Fabrication of quercetin and curcumin bionanovesicles for the prevention and rapid regeneration of full-thickness skin defects on mice

2013

In the present work biocompatible quercetin and curcumin nanovesicles were developed as a novel approach to prevent and restore skin tissue defects on chronic cutaneous pathologies. Stable and suitable quercetin- and curcumin-loaded phospholipid vesicles, namely liposomes and penetration enhancer-containing vesicles (PEVs), were prepared. Vesicles were made from a highly biocompatible mixture of phospholipids and alternatively a natural polyphenol, quercetin or curcumin. Liposomes were obtained by adding water, while PEVs by adding polyethylene glycol 400 and Oramix®CG110 to the water phase. Transmission electron microscopy, cryogenic-transmission electron microscopy and small- and wide-ang…

Experimental modeling of bacterially-induced Ca carbonate precipitation: new insights on possible mechanisms.

2015

The contribution of microorganisms, particularly bacteria, in carbonate mineral formation, the main natural processes controlling CO2 level in the atmosphere, has played an important role since the Archean Eon. In this study we review our recent experimental work on CaCO3 precipitation induced by two anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB), Rhodovulum steppense A-20sT and Rhodovulum sp. S-17-65, and by cyanobacteria Gloeocapsa sp. f-6gl. These bacteria are representatives of two important groups of photosynthetic organisms present at the Earth surface both in the past and at the present times. The mechanisms of organomineralization deriving from APB and cyanobacteria activities are drastical…

Inhalable Formulation Based on Lipid–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles for the Macrophage Targeted Delivery of Roflumilast

2022

Here, novel lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs), targeted to lung macrophages, were realized as potential carriers for Roflumilast administration in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To achieve this, Roflumilast-loaded fluorescent polymeric nanoparticles, based on a polyaspartamide-polycaprolactone graft copolymer, and lipid vesicles, made from 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-phosphoethanolamine-N-(polyethylene glycol)-mannose, were properly combined using a two-step method, successfully obtaining Roflumilast-loaded hybrid fluorescent nanoparticles (Man-LPHFNPs@Roflumilast). These exhibit colloidal size and a ne…

Study of electrostatic potential surface distribution of wild-type plastocyaninSynechocystissolution structure determined by homonuclear NMR

2003

Plastocyanin is a small (∼10 kDa), type I blue copper protein that works as an electron donor to photosystem I from cytochrome f in both chloroplast systems and in some strains of cyanobacteria. Comparative studies of the kinetic mechanisms of plastocyanins in different organisms show that the electron transfer from photosystem I happens by simple collision in cyanobacteria but through a intermediate transition complex in green algae and superior plants. Previous work has proved that this effect cannot be explained by structural variations across the different plastocyanins but it can be explained by differences in the electrostatic potential distribution at the protein surface. In that cas…